Picker stick check



July 28, 1953 C, W, FRANKUN 2,646,826

PICKER STICK CHECK Filed 0G13. 24, 1952' INVENTOR Clarence WFluzlz/lz,

In... 'l

ATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,646,826y PICKER STICK CHECK Clarence W. Franklin, Clarkesville, Ga.

Application October 24, 1952, Serial No. 316,729

1 My invention relates to looms, and has particular reference to picker stick checks for looms.

An important o bject of the invention is to provide a picker stick check Awhich will properly check they movement of the picker stick, as it approaches the inner andouter ends of its stroke.

A further object is to provideV a Apicker stick check which may be bodily mounted upon the lay of the loom, and requiring no changes in the conventional loom construction.

Another object is to provide a Vpicker stick check comprising units arranged in Ipairs rand adapted to be assembled before being mounted upon the lay of the loom. v A

Still another object of the invention is to Vprovide a picker stick check of the labove-mentioned character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and effective in operation, and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. Y

In the accompanying drawings, forming a Ipart of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a picker stick check embodying my invention, and showing the same mounted upon a loom lay, with the picker stick at the outer end of its stroke, parts broken away,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the elements shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on line 4-4 of Figure 1, f

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a picker stick check embodying a modification of the invention, parts broken away,

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross section on line 6 6 of Figure 5, and,

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical sec tion on line 'I-I of Figure 5.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments oi my invention, attention is directed rst to Figures l to 4 inclusive, wherein the numeral I designates the lay of a loom. The lay I0 ispro-l vided near its end portion shown in the drawings with the usual longitudinal slot I I for one picker stick I2. The other end portion of the lay I0, not shown, is, ofcourse, likewise .provided with a longitudinal slot for the other picker stick, n ot shown. 1

5 Claims. (Cl. 13S-'164) My picker stick check comprises generally -c shaped mounting members or channels I3, arranged horizontally beneath the lay I 0 and near one end of the same. The channels I3 are arranged in opposed spaced relation, with their top and bottom horizontal flanges I4 and I5 inwardly directed, as shown in Figure 4. The top flanges I4 of the channels I3 extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the channel body portions, as shown at I6 in Figure 1, and the top flanges I4 are provided near their ends with openings receiving vertical bolts I1, which extend through the lay I0, as shown. Sleeves or spacers I8 surround the bolts I1 above the channels I3, for maintaining the channels spaced a proper distance below` the lay I0, as shown. The bolts I1 carry nuts I9 upon their lower ends, and in this manner the channels are rigidly secured to the lay I0 and bodily carried thereby.

Each mounting member or channel I3 is provided at its longitudinal center and near its inner open side with a vertical pivot pin or Apintle 20, rigidly secured within openings formed in the top and bottom flanges I4 and I5, Figure 4. The pintles 20 are spaced laterally inwardly of the outer vertical webs or sides 2I of the channels I3, and the pintles of the pair of channels are in transverse alignment. Each pintle 20 is pivotally received within interltting knuckles 22 and 23, formed integral with rigid horizontally swingable leaves or plates 24 and 25 respectively; The upper and lower knuckles 22 of the leaves 24 have their ends substantially contacting the top and bottom flanges I4 and I5, as shown in Figure 4, and the pintles 20 provide a continuous bearing for the intertting knuckles 22 and 23 between the flanges I4 and I5. tapered toward their outer free ends, and the leaves are vertically disposed and adapted to swing horizontally, as stated. The free ends -of the tapered leaves 24 and 25 extend for substantial distances beyond the ends of the channels I3, and the outermost extremities of the leaves are preferably rounded as shown in Figure 1. The leaves 24 and 25 of each channel I3 are arranged in laterally spaced opposed relation, as best shown in Figure 3. The leaves 24 and 25 have their inner faces covered with sheets 26 of leather, fibrous material, fabric or the like, and fixedly securedv rlhe leaves 24 and 25 are 28 and a relatively short auxiliary leaf 29, arranged outwardly of the main leaf and having its ends terminating substantial distances inwardly of the ends of the main leaf 28. The ends of the main leaves 28 engage slidably within keepers or sockets 30, rigidly secured to the outer sides of the leaves 24 and 25 adjacent to their outer ends. The leaf springs 21 are longitudinally curved or bowed outwardly with respect to the hinged leaves 24 and 25, and the leaf springs contact and bear against the vertical webs ZI of the channels I3, at the longitudinal centers of the leaf springs, Figures 3 and 4. As best shown in Figure 4, the leaf springs 21 are relatively narrow vertically and are disposed at the vertical centers of the channels I3 and extend along the longitudinal center lines or axes of the hinged leaves 24 and 25. Throughout substantially their entire lengths, the leaf springs 21 are spaced from the adjacent leaves or plates 24 and 25, Fig. 3, and at their points of contact with the vertical webs 2l, the leaf springs 21 are spaced laterally outwardly of the pintles 23 and knuckles 23 for substantial distances.

Adjacent to their points of contact with the vertical channel webs 2I, the leaves 28 and 23 of the leaf springs are iiXedly clamped against the inner faces o the vertical webs 2I by rigid clamp plates or clips 3l. These clamp plates 3i are rigidly secured to the vertical webs 3lby means of bolts 32 or the like, near the lower anges I5 of the channels I3, Figure Li. The rigid clamp plates 3l contact the leaf springs over' a small area only near theirl longitudinal centers,

and the leaf springs are free to flex throughout substantially their entire lengths, the clamp plates serving merely to support the leaf springs near their longitudinal centers and prevent movement thereof relative to the vertical webs 2I, against which the leaf springs react.

In so reacting, the leaf springs 21 bias or urge the free outer ends of the hingedly connected leaves 2d and 25 together, in longitudinally converging relation, as shown. With this arrangement, when the picker stick i 2 moves near the end of its stroke in either direction, it is brought into frictional engagement with the converging pairs of leaves 24 and 25. These leaves being spring biased inwardly by the leaf springs 2! cause the picker stick to be properly brought to rest or checked. When the picker stick moves inwardly, from the free ends of the leaves 24 and 25, it becomes spaced from the leaves and may move freely. I Wish to emphasize that the leaf springs 21 are spaced outwardly of the pintles 2S and knuckles 23 at their longitudinal centers, and are held or clamped over a small area only by the clamp plates 3i. With this arrangement, there is no binding of the leaf springs and the same are free to fiek properly and exert a carefully predetermined force upon the hinged leaves 24 and 25 near their outer ends.

In Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, I have shown a modified form of picker stick check to be bodily mounted upon the lay Ic for coaction with the picker stick I2. This form of check comprises C-shaped mounting members or channels 32, substantially identical with the channels I3 but having their top and bottom horizontal flanges 33 and 34 formed somewhat wider than the flanges I4 and i5, as shown in Figure '1. The channels 32 are rigidly secured to the lay II] by means of the vertical bolts I1 and spacers I8, previously described in connection with the first form of the invention. rhe channels 32 are pro- 4 vided near their inner open sides with vertical pintles 35, like the pintles 2B, and rigidly secured thereto. The pintles 35 are spaced substantial distances inwardly of the outer vertical webs 36 of the channels 32', as shown. The pintles 35 are pivotally received in intertting knuckles 31 and 38 of rigid horizontally swingable leaves 39 and 40, which are substantially identical with the leaves 24 and 25. The leaves 39 and 4I) likewise have their inner faces covered with sheets 4I of leather, br'ous material, fabric or the like, and xedly secured thereto by riveting, cementing or any other suitable means.

Instead of the leaf springs 21 of the first form of the invention, I employ torsional coil springs 42,` which are vertically disposed between the outer vertical Webs 33 and pintles 35, at the longitudinal centers ofthe channels 32. The coil springs 42 have their upper and lower ends engaging over keepers or sleeves 53, mounted upon vertical bolts 44, which extend throughopenings in the channel iia'nges 33 and 34, and rigidly secured therein, Figure 7. The coil springs 42 are spaced from the knuckles 31 and SS, as well as the vertical web 36, so as to be free from binding. IThe keepers 43 are urged by the springs into contact with the flanges 33 and 34, as shown. The springs 42 have generally radial inclined end extensions or arms 45, integral with their uppermost and lowermost coils, and the arms i5 extend over the outer faces of the leaves 39 and 40, and generally longitudinally thereof, throughout the major portion of the lengths of the leaves, Figure 5. The arms d5 are spaced slightly from the leaves 39 and 40, Figure 6, and have their free end portions 46 arranged in longitudinal alignment on the longitudinalvcenter lines, of the hinged leaves 39 and L33, as shown. rIhe endv portions it slidably engage within small sleeves or eyes 51, rigidly mountedl upon the cuter sides of the leaves 39 and-4t, near andr inwardly of their outer tapered ends.

The operation of the picker stick check shown in Figures 5 to '7 inclusive is substantially identical with that shown and described as the first form of the invention. The arms i5 of the tortional springs i2 urge the hinged leaves 39 and 3.0 together in converging relation, as shown in Figure 6. These leaves being resiliently biased inwardly frictionally engage the picker stick near the opposite ends of its travel and properly bring the same to rest.

While I have shown only one picker stick and one picker stick check, in connection with both forms of the invention, it should of course, be understood that the other picker stick, not shown, at the other end'of the lay I9 is provided with a check, identical in construction with the check shown on the drawings and described above.

The checks shown and described in connection with both forms of the invention constitute pairs of opposed self-contained units, each having a pair of the hinged leaves or plates and a mounting member or channel for the leaves, which may be bodily mounted upon the lay Ii) after the unit is completely assembled.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention. herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a picker stick check, a supporting channel arranged beneath the lay and secured there-- to, a vertical pivot element secured to the channel near its open side and longitudinal center, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally secured to said element and extending generally longitudinally or the channel for frictional engagement with the picker stick and being horizontally swingable about the pivot element, and a spring attached to the channel near its closed side and longitudinal center and having parts extending over the outer sides of the leaves and connected therewith for urging the leaves into frictional engagement with the picker stick, the spring being spaced from said pivot element and leaves at its point of attachment to the channel so that the spring will not bind with the pivot element and is free t0 exert a predetermined force against the leaves.

2. In a picker stick check, a supporting channel arranged horizontally beneath the lay and secured thereto, a vertical pivot element secured to the channel near its open side and spaced a substantial distance from the closedside of the channel, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally secured to said element and extending longitudinally of the channel and being horizontally swingable about the pivot element for frictional engagement with the picker stick, a spring arranged between the closed side of said channel and leaves and having parts extending longitudinally of the leaves and connected therewith a substantial distance outwardly of their inner ends for urging the leaves into frictional engagement with the picker stick, and means connected with the spring adjacent to the inner ends of the leaves and longitudinal center of the channel for attaching the spring to the channel adjacent to the closed side of the channel, said means being spaced laterally of said pivot element toward the closed side of the channel, whereby the attached portion of the spring is maintained spaced from the pivot element and said leaves.

3. A picker stick check comprising a pair of opposed channels adapted to be secured to the bottom of the lay and substantially horizontally disposed With their open sides arranged innermost, vertical pivot elements secured to the opposed channels near their open sides and longitudinal centers, opposed pairs of leaves pivotally secured to said elements and extending longitudinally of the channels and lay and swingable horizontally for frictional engagement with the picker stick, a leaf spring extending over the outer sides of each pair of leaves and arranged between the leaves and closed side of the channel, each leaf spring having parts connected with the leaves near their outer ends only for urging the leaves into converging relation toward their outer ends, an intermediate part of each leaf spring bearing against the closed side of the channel opposite the pivot element and spaced laterally therefrom, and a clamping element for each leaf spring to hold said intermediate part against the closed side of the channel and secured to the channel and spaced from said pivot element and leaves.

4. In a picker stick check, a supporting channel arranged beneath the lay and disposed substantially horizontally and extending longitudinally of the lay, means securing the supporting channel to the lay, a vertical pivot element secured to the channel near its open side and spaced from the closed side of the channel, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally secured to said element and extending generally longitudinally of the channel and the lay and being horizontally swingable about the pivot elementy a leaf spring arranged between the closed side of the channel and leaves and extending longitudinally of the leaves and connected therewith near the outer ends of the leaves only for urging the leaves into frictional engagement with the picker stick, a central portion of the leaf spring bearing against the closed side of the channel opposite said pivot element and spaced therefrom, and a clamping element engaging said central portion of the leaf spring and holdingr it against the closed side of the channel and being secured to the channel, the leaf spring being free from connection with the channel and leaves throughout the major portion of its length.

5. In a picker stick check, a supporting channel arranged horizontally beneath the lay and extending longitudinally thereof, means securing the supporting channel to the lay, a vertical pivot element secured to the channel near its open side and spaced from the closed side of the channel, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivoted to said element and being horizontally swingable about the element and adapted to frictionally contact the picker stick, a vertical bolt secured to the supporting channel near the closed side of the same and spaced laterally of said pivot element, a torsional coil spring surrounding the vertical bolt and spaced from the pivot element, leaves and closed side of the channel, andarms secured to the upper and lower ends of the coil spring and extending over the outer sides of said leaves and connected with the leaves substantial distances outwardly of the pivot element for urging the leaves into frictional engagement with the picker stick.

CLARENCE W, FRANKLIN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 981,050 Barber Jan. 10, 1911 1,138,660 Jones et al. May 11, 1915 1,146,697 Evans July 13, 1915 1,341,394 Stone May 25, 1920 1,633,452 McLemore June 21, 1927 1,707,851 Galle Apr. 2, 1929 2,197,589 Newton Apr. 16. 1949 

